Wood anemone ©Paul Lane
Where to go in March
Common frogs guarding frogspawn by Denes Dobai
With nearly 90 nature reserves across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to choose from, which are the best to visit this month?
Finemere Wood, Bucks
Visit this magnificent woodland and be rewarded with the thrilling atmosphere of a very old and wild place. Spring is a particularly special time here. Soon the rides will be edged with primroses, and later in the season bluebells will carpet the woodland floor.
As you venture further into the stillness of the trees, you will find a sheltered haven of rough pasture and thickets. Traditional grazing has encouraged the return of spring plants such as ragged-robin and cuckooflower. Listen to the sounds of the birds and the breeze in the canopy above.
Notice the colors in your surroundings; the beady eye will spot vibrant, lime-green wood spurge and white wood anemone, a favorite with Charlotte, BBOWT’s leader of the Finemere Wood volunteer work party. Of this plant she notes:
“One of the earliest spring flowers, it is a beauty. A delicate star-shaped flower with white/pinkish petals, it spreads very slowly via rhizomes and is an indicator of ancient woodland. Large patches can be seen in Finemere Wood - spectacular.”
Access
Flat, muddy when wet, some stumps and roots; five short bridges; benches throughout reserve.
©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Dancersend with Pavis Wood, Bucks
Variety and history intertwine in this wonderfully diverse reserve which nestles within two sheltered valleys deep in the Chilterns. Dancersend was made a nature reserve in the 1940s in remembrance of Charles Rothschild, the founder of UK nature conservation. The different types of woodland habitats that can be found here reflect a chequered history. Most of the original woodlands were felled during the Second World War, but in the 1950s, two large woods were replanted with a mix of woodland species including beech, ash, cherry and oak.
Now maturing, these woods have stunning displays of spring flowers. You can also find a number of old woodland plants including the intriguing white hanging bells of Solomon's-seal and the unusual stinking hellebore.
Listen to the distant sound of woodpeckers, soak up the change of season and ponder on nature’s remarkable capacity for regeneration in this recovered haven.
Access
Variable, gentle slopes, bumpy in places; gates; benches.
Treecreeper by Amy Lewis
Bowdown Woods, Berks
Over the border in West Berkshire, Bowdown Wood nature reserve is one of the greatest hidden spots to see spring flowers. Bowdown is a magical, dense, ancient woodland, with views across the Kennet Valley.
The woods are filled with sweet song at this time of year as birds start to claim their territories ahead of breeding. Why not try our one-mile Wildlife Walk, which takes in some damp clay areas on the lower slopes and steep climbs up to higher, drier ground. Combining mysterious hidden valleys, sunny glades and patches of heathland, this spot is a natural playground to explore in the fresh spring air.
Access
Variable, the reserve is made up of 3 areas:
Baynes: steep slopes, uneven underfoot, long flight of steps and a boardwalk.
Bomb Site: flat and surfaced, accessible for robust mobility scooters and robust wheelchairs.
Bowdown: gentle slopes, soft after rain.
Boardwalk at Wildmoor Heath by Roger Stace
Wildmoor Heath, Berks
In the east of Berkshire, Wildmoor Heath is a remarkable nature reserve with rare lowland heath habitat and marshland that is home to lizards and snakes, ground-nesting birds and carnivorous sundew plants.
The boardwalk and raised path that winds through parts of the reserve makes it possible to explore the site with dry feet. Take care to stick to the paths so as to not disturb the ground-nesting birds.
Listen out for songs of chiffchaffs, stonechats and Dartford warblers. On warmer spring days you might even catch a glimpse of a basking common lizard. Follow the badger way makers to explore our circular Wildlife Walk (1.5 miles).
Access
Variable, mainly firm, gently sloping, sandy paths, some boggy peat, some rough underfoot, can be very muddy in winter; gates, stiles, boardwalks
Sunrise at Cholsey Marsh by Charlotte Day - winner of the landscape category in the BBOWT Photography Competition 2022.
Cholsey Marsh, Oxon
If you’re looking for some wide-open spaces, Cholsey Marsh in south Oxfordshire is the perfect spot for a quiet stroll along the banks of the Thames.
This site is particularly special because, due to large-scale drainage for farming, riverside marshes are scarce these days.
Cholsey Marsh is home to a wealth of plants, insects and birds that depend on the wet reed and sedge beds. Sedges are grass-like vegetation which play essential roles in stabilising soil, filtering water, and providing habitat for diverse wildlife. Marshes are magical places, because their beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.
Pause for a minute and you will see just how alive the landscape is. Reed buntings sing their song from amongst the swaying grass; there are marsh marigolds or ‘kingcups’ which look like giant buttercups; and if you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of a colourful kingfisher darting downstream.
The Thames Path National Trail runs through the reserve, so it's easily visited as part of a longer walk along the river.
Access
Flat overall, soft after rain; kissing gates, gates
Common frogs guarding frogspawn by Denes Dobai
CS Lewis Nature Reserve, Oxon
This tranquil woodland and large pond used to belong to celebrated Oxford author CS Lewis. With World Book Day round the corner, this spot is a must for it was said he enjoyed wandering here while writing the acclaimed children's book series about Narnia which includes The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Enjoy the melting of the long winter and watch as nature comes to life once more. In spring, the reserve is full of beautiful birdsong, and the pond, a flooded Victorian clay pit, is rich in aquatic plants. Toads migrate here to spawn at this time of year, and moorhens and coots regularly nest here.
The steeply rising woodland has a canopy of beech, oak, birch, alder, ash and hawthorn. Wrap up warm, bring a book, and stay a while. This is an enchanting place to be.
Access
Steep slopes, uneven in places, wet patches; gates